Preston Police Station and Courthouse

59a Roseberry Avenue, Preston

In September 1926, a new courthouse was opened in Preston on Roseberry Avenue at the cost of £5000. It was declared open by Mr. J. MacNamara, P. M. Attendees included J. Ellison, A. Rose, H. P. Zwar and E. Lewis. Mr. Ellison had been a Justice of the Peace for 46 years. Land had been put aside for a new police station at Preston next door. The police were residing in ‘inadequate quarters’ in Gower Street while they awaited the new building. 

Mr. J. Cunningham of Oakleigh was contracted to build the new Preston Police station. The one-storey brick building cost £2665. It was designed by R.C. Davey of the Victorian Public Works Department. The Leader reported:  

The police station portion has accommodation for sub-officers’ room, sergeants’ office, waterhouse-keepers’ office, lost property and blanks stores, muster room, and a room for the plain-clothes police. Attached to the police station will be quarters for the use of the sergeant and his family, consisting of three bedrooms, dinning room, kitchen and all necessary conveniences.

The police station was opened in 1931. The first sergeant was Stg. Hugh Alexander Lang. The character of Sergeant Lang was rather colourful. He was a member of the Preston Bowling Club and was for many years the winner of the “Cock of the North”, a glittering bird made with “diamonds”. The proud sergeant wore a coat with this title and dared anyone to tread on his “tail.” 

In 1933, Preston Police Station became an aviary after 140 stolen song-birds were recovered from a house in Cubitt Street Richmond. Two plain-clothes bicycle patrol stopped a man in at Preston Railway Station who was carrying canaries in calico bags. 40 birds belonged to Mr Hutton, a bootmaker, and were given back immediately. Happily, all other birds were claimed and rehomed a few days later. George Lawson Waddingham was charged and locked up with three charges of canary stealing. 

The station was built in the Classical Revival design characteristic of the Inter War period. This building is no longer used at the Preston Police Station. A contemporary station is now at 55 Roseberry Avenue, Preston. The courthouse is no longer standing. 

 

Cock of the North (1930, January 24). The Leader, P. 12

New Courthouse at Preston, (1926, September 3). The Argus, p.7

New Police Station for Preston, (1930, October 9). The Herald, p. 7 

New Police Station for Preston, (1931, January 9). The Leader, p. 13

New Preston Police Station, (1931, January 22). The Argus, p. 5. 

Police Buildings, (1931, January 23). The Leader, p. 2

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne and Suburban Directory 1864- 1974. [Microfiche]. (1974). Melbourne, Australia: Sands & McDougall.

Stolen Canaries Claimed (1933, September 5). The argus, p. 9

Victorian Heritage Database Report. Preston Police Station. Retrieved 16/09/2024

Week-End Crime (1933, September 4). The Age, p. 10